Klaus Thoma1

THE FUTURE OF EU DEFENCE RESEARCH& EU DEFENCE RESEARCH NETWORKS

Prof. Klaus Thoma

Fraunhofer SocietySEDE Meeting

Brussels

November 22

2017

© Fraunhofer

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft at a Glance

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft undertakes applied research of direct utility to private and public enterprise and of wide benefit to society.

24,500 staff

69 institutes and research units

More than 70%is derived from contracts with industry and from publicly financed research projects.

Almost 30%is contributed by the German federal and Länder Governments

Fin

ance

vo

lum

e

€2.1 billion

2016

Co

ntr

act

Res

earc

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€1.9 billion

Major infrastructure capital expenditure and defense research

© Fraunhofer

Innovation Research

Information and Communication Technology ICT

Life Sciences

Light & Surfaces

Institutes working in related subject areas cooperate in Fraunhofer Groups and foster a joint presence on the R&D market.

Microelectronics

Production

Materials and Components –MATERIALS

Defense and Security VVS

Pooling into Fraunhofer Groups

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European Defence Research:

Big Steps of a successful strategy

• EU Global Strategy

• Group of Personalities (GoP Report)

• Pilot Project on Defence Research

• Commission’s Defence Action Plan

• Preparatory Action (PA) und European Defence Research Program (EDRP)

• A Strategic Path for European Defence Research: 4 Pillar Concept

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Group of Personalities Report

Übergabe des Berichts an Kommissarin Bienkowska 23. Februar 2016

http://www.iss.europa.eu/publications/detail/article/report-of-the-group-of-personalities-on-the-preparatory-action-for-csdp-related-research/

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In den Schlüsselempfehlungen wird das bisherige in wenige Aussagen verdichtet:

Key Recommendations

• Fostering defence research cooperation at the EU level will enable the Union to live up to its responsibilities as an effective security provider and a relevant and reliable partner at the global level.

• The PA and the EDRP should act as a catalyst for European cooperation in key capability areas, breaking down the barriers and overcoming the disincentives to cooperation that exist today.

• Close cooperation between governments (as sole customers), industries (as main suppliers) and R&T organisations is crucial for the success of the PA/EDRP.

• An essential goal of an EU-funded Defence Research Programme will be to sustain an appropriate level of strategic autonomy for Europe by maintaining its defence technological and industrial base in key capability areas.

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Übergeordnete Ziele als Ergebnis der bisherigen GoP-Diskussion:

• Achieve a European strategic autonomy in

o Critical Technologies

o independent European supply chains

o Interoperability & Standards

• Europe as a SECURITY PROVIDER Priovide capabilities + technologies to fullfill European defence missions –

• Maintain and strengthen our defence industrial base. Goal must be to promote a more integrated, sustainable and competitive industrial base in defence

• Strengthen defence cooperation in Europe via joint defence & security research programs

• Contribute to Europe´s Resilience in a Globalized World

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The Future of European Defence Research

Suggestion: A Research Framework based on 4 Pillars

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The Future of European Defence Research

A Research Framework with the following Strategic Procedures & Components

I. Walk Strategic Path for DEFENCE CAPABILITIES + R & D Programs

II. Initiate European Research Program Part on KEY Defence TECHNOLOGIES

III. Create via the Research Program a framework for Establishment of

EUROPEAN CLUSTERS for Research / Development / Manufacturing

IV. Establish a FORUM for STRATEGIC PLANNING

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The Future of European Defence Research

A Research Framework with the followingStrategic Procedures & Components

Pillar I

I. Walk down a Strategic Path!

• derive European DEFENCE CAPABILITIES,

• initiate programs for necessary research,

• initate programs for Demonstrator development

Klaus Thoma

Global Strategy

Defence sub Strategy

Capability Development

PlanResearch Program

Development Program

Authors’ own production – FM 2016

12

Walk down the Strategic Path

From Global Strategy towardsResearch, Development, Procurement

Procurement Plans

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The Future of European Defence Research

A Research Framework with the followingStrategic Procedures & Components

Pillar II

II. Initiate a European Research Program Part on

KEY DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES

• Strategic technologies

• Innovation

• Emergent defence technologies

• Disruptive technologies

• Basic technologies for industrial development programs

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In particular in this context, "innovators", such as universities, RTOs, SMEs and industry should be addressed

BUT for all Partners/Actors :

To be able to compete with leading Defence Research Communities in US and Asia an important “conditio sine qua non” must be

• Scientific Excellence

• outstanding Technology Background

• Proven Experience in Defence R&T

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R&I&T Areas (Research, Innovation & Technology)

Critical Defence Technologies :within this Area it should be demonstrated that R&I&T at EU level can convincingly contribute positively to ensure future access to certain technologies that are critical for the defence sector.

Topics should aim at technologies at sub-system or component level (defence specific electronics, meta-materials, …), access to which is critical for the independent development of defence systems; mid to high TRL.

Future and Emerging Disruptive Technologies:technologies, either emerging or available to other sectors, which have the potential to become "game changers" with a potentially ground-breaking impact on the future operational environment, are addressed in this Area; low to mid TRL, including advanced manufacturing technologies typical of Industry 4.0 and beyond.

In view of the reform of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), an important part in this Area would be to launch a stocktaking exercise of ITAR related components in Europe's armament systems, including in future technologies.

DARPA like projects : Bridging the Gap

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The Future of European Defence Research

A Research Framework with the followingStrategic Procedures & Components

Pillar III

III. Create via the Research Program a framework

for the Development of EUROPEAN CLUSTERS of Excellence

for the actors in defence research (RTO´s, Universities)

for defence industry, focus on SME´s, Technology Centers

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Encouraging the development of regional clusters of excellence

Regional clusters specialising in industrial niches (also known as “clusters of excellence”) allow large firms, SMEs and research centres to work in close geographic proximity in order to increase R&D collaboration and specialise in a specific technology area (e.g. aircraft engines).

While the decision to prioritise regional clusters rests in the hands of local and regional government actors, EU financing (including through EIB) could lead to successful technology demonstrator projects and the development of industrial and scientific partnerships between firms and research centres (44).

Remark:Furthermore, the Commission has launched the European Network of Defence-related Regions (45) to support EU regions with important relevant industrial and research assets and to share best practices on integration defence-related priorities into their smart specialisation strategies. The Commission will encourage Member States to promote regional clusters of excellence, benefitting the defence sector.

Klaus Thoma 18Source: https://www.endr.de

© Fraunhofer Prof. Dr. Klaus Thoma

Security Research: An example of sucessful Networks

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The Future of European Defence Research

A Research Framework with the followingStrategic Procedures & Components

Pillar IV

IV. Establish a FORUM for Strategic Planning & Foresight Studies

European Network for • Horizon Scanning, • Technology Watch • Scenario-Based Scoping of EU-Funded Defence Research

to support the strategic foresight analysis of both MS and the EU, by following important

• geopolitical and security trends, • emerging threats, • technological developments, and • assessing the military impact of such trends and technologies.

© Fraunhofer EMI 2014, Thoma/Scharte – Resilience

Slide 21

©Tobias Dietz/PIXELIO

The Future of European Defence Research

A Research Framework with the following Strategic Procedures & Components

Thank You for your Attention

Klaus Thoma